Windows

Triple-glazed windows (pictured) are used throughout the building to reduce heat loss in the winter and limit heat gain in the summer. These windows insulate twice as well as double-paned windows and are rated with a U-factor of 0.17. (The lower the U-factor, the greater a window’s resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating properties.) Two coatings of low-E metallic oxide and two sections of argon gas also help to reduce solar heat gain in the summer months.

Fiberglass window frames insulate better than vinyl, wood, or aluminum, and they contain up to 85% melted sand, a nearly inexhaustible natural resource.